My internship at NBCUniversal during the pandemic

Name: Raquel Quiroz

Major: Broadcast Media

Internship location:  NBCUniversal

Position: Digital intern

How did you get your internship?

I applied to multiple internships on the NBCUniversal career’s website. I went through a series of phone interviews, a writing test and finally an in-person interview.

What projects do you work on?

I work with the national editor’s team of Telemundo stations. I help them with national and regional news stories, as well as help create visual content.

How has your internship experience changed since having to work remotely?

I miss going to work. It was surreal to be in the NBC building. Now, everything is done remotely. At first, it was scary because I didn’t have anyone around me to ask a question or to quickly see how they were doing something but as the weeks passed, I’ve definitely become more confident and have adapted to the new workflow.

What has been the most challenging part of having to work remotely?

As an intern, you always want to learn more. By working remotely, I have been able to keep helping and learning from my team. However, I feel like my learning experience has been limited. I’m still very grateful to them for constant guidance.

What was the coolest thing that happened during your internship?

I was inside the control room during the live news [broadcasts] and got to see my dream job in action.

What did you like most about your experience?

I loved all the people I got to work with and learn from. Every day at NBCUniversal is something new.

What did you learn about yourself?

Before starting this internship, I was hesitant about the news industry but I ended up really loving it.

How did you expand your professional network?

Because my time in the office was cut short, I didn’t get to network outside of my team. Still, I was able to build significant relationships with my team members, which I hope to continue even after my internship is done.

How has this internship helped you expand your skills and knowledge of the communications industry?

My team has given me amazing professional advice, as well as tools to further develop my skills in the areas of news writing and storytelling.

What was the most useful thing you learned from this internship and experience?

You need to go for it. You need to be curious. And you need to put yourself out of your comfort zone in order to grow.

How did it help you prove yourself in the “real world”?

Interning with NBCUniversal has helped me to develop my critical thinking skills, become proactive and put myself out there. It’s also given me a deeper insight into how the news media works and what exciting and rewarding industry it is to work for.

What advice do you have for those beginning the internship process?

Work on your resume and apply for as many internships as you can. Show interest, do your research and follow up – always follow up. It’s important to show that you are interested in and excited to join the company. However, be humble and truthful. And in my personal opinion, try to go for paid internships; your work deserves to be paid.